I just got done installing the headers on my car. so i let the car warm up cause its been sitting for awhile. well anyways, as i was cleaning up my car just died so i go sit in the driver seat and there is no power at all. i tried to honk the horn and nothing. so i go to the batter and its smoking and it stinks like rotton eggs. so anyways i go buy a new battery and i try to hook it up. and it sparking when i do like big time sparking. So i think i got a short on the positive side. is the short only on charging system or somthing else??

 

$20 says your positive battery wire was touching your headers and melted to the header. The wire touches the metal header and grounds itself out. Check before you start it again.

 

well thats the thing. i cant start it. even with the new battery it wont let me. its like try to put postive tied to negative together. but i think your right if your not you need to pay me $20...

 

If the wire did melt and the metal inside the wire is touching the header, the battery will spark when you try to connect the terminals. Thats because the circuit is shorted out from the wire grounding against the header. If all you did was install headers, you did nothing to the electrical system so in theory that stuff should be fine no matter what. I guarantee thats what happened.

 

guess what Joe? i think i need to pay you 20$ now. you were right in the money big time. it was right in front of my face last night and i cant belive i didnt see it. thanks bro for the help!!

 

No problem. About 4 years ago I had to replace the starter in my '66 Bonneville. When I reconnected the positive battery cable the cable was resting against the exhaust manifold and the exact same thing happened. Only with those cars you have the top mounted lead terminals so when it shorted it just melted the cable terminal before it fried the battery. Glad I could help. It takes someone that was in the exact same situation to figure that one out..

 

hey guys well i just put headers on my car too and i hope this is the problem too...cause i also started the car and it ran for a while then shut down then smoke out the battery and the dizzy and melted the post on my battery im pretty upset but what can i do wrap up the power wire w/electrical tape or buy a new power wire

 

Well just find where the batter is being grounded and secure it away from the problem. I used a zip tie to hold it down. Find anywere to do this, but also you should un-plug your positive cable really quick. Good luck

 

Idealy, once the the wire is melted like that you should replace it, but a cheap way is to wrap it in e-tape. You don't want a Power wire exposed to the elements like that, could cause headaches down the road.